Adopted Dog Behavior (HELP!!!)

Hello,

I recently adopted a 3.5 year old, male Cocker Spaniel from a local rescue agency. I actually fostered him for 1 week before I made the final decision to adopt, and we fell in love with him immediatly.

With that said, we did notice that he seemed to be agressive towards people and other dogs when we took him for walks around our apartment complex. Only, this aggression was on and off. There didn't seem to be any one thing that would set it off. Sometimes he would want to just get pet or play with another dog, and sometimes he starts growling and barking. I know if I let him he would try to bite.

I cam to the conclusion that he could be trained not to be agressive on these walks and used a water bottle to curve his agression. This has seemed to work. He is much better.

The real problem is that over easter, my little sister (she is a freshman in college) came over and the dog decided that he did not like her. He became agressive to the point where I was actually scared, and he tried to bite her.

I have only had the dog for less than two weeks now (including the foster week) and I am actually worried about his behavior to the point where I am considering giving him back if we can not fix it.

I really love the dog. He is great and loving inside of my apartment when it is just my girlfriend and I. I just can not seem to trust him around anybody else.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS???? PLEASE! We really want to keep him, but we are afraid that if we are not able to curve his behavior then he may hurt somebody.

Thanks,
SJDUSC

I would seek help from a behavorist. The shelter where you got him may be able to help too. Talk to them about he acted when he was with the shelter. Obedience classes are a great idea too!

Its hard to give aggression advice without seeing it first hand. I think a behaviorist specializing in aggression would be your best bet. If you can't afford one, I would talk to the shelter and see if something can be worked out. They are responsible for adopting a dog to you that has you frightened he will bite someone. They should hopefully take the responsibility to help you out somehow.

Good luck!

A behaviourist is a good idea, but if you're like me and don't have one in your area, than you could maybe try those pills that you can buy at the petshop that will calm a dog down. It may not help with major problems, but does have a calming effect ;)

I agree with the other suggestions of a behaviorist. It sounds like it's gotten to the point that you really need to do something quick. Let's face it, we live in a sue happy society and you don't want anything to happen. This may be the very reason the dog ended up in the shelter to begin with. I would definately contact the shelter also and see if they have more information on why he was given up. The unpredictability of his aggressiveness is what worries me.

I definately agree with a behaviorist.Are you talking about rescue remedy.The drops given to calm down.I don't think that is a forever cure for agression.I have a friend that uses it to get new fosters used to a new environment if they are having trouble and at one point had to use it for her cat for a few days but not long term.I am not an expert on it though you would have to check with someone who is.I did once use a behaviorist on an aggressive dog and she was wonderful and very helpful..If you can't find one try to find a trainer trained in aggresion.Try, trainers,your vet,places like that to find a behavioist.It may just need to be an evaluation for one or two times that may be well worth a bit of a drive where the training could be done with someone else or you may, though I hope not, find you may need to give the him back.Good luck.
Laurie